Celebrating Over 50 Years of Service to San Francisco

San Francisco Night Ministry, now at 52 years, is often referred to as the Church's "Night Shift." We are engaged in over 21,000 significant conversations, and serve over 9,500 meals each year, becoming an important bridge and steady support for many people as they face the darkness of the night, but not alone. We provide compassionate, non-judgmental pastoral care, care of the soul, counseling, referrals, and crisis intervention to anyone in any kind of distress, every night of the year between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. Learn more about what we do.

On the Streets of the Tenderloin

The Night Minister: On the Streets of the Tenderloin With Father Lyle Beckman

by Jeremy Lybarger

It’s at night when our loneliness feels most naked and our fears most relentless. And it’s at night when San Francisco’s night minister hears confessions and offers prayers to those who need them most.

He calls them the desperate hours, and, most nights, that’s an apt description for this stretch of downtown San Francisco. Read the complete article.

On the Streets of the Tenderloin, 'a Light in an Unlit World'

by Natalie Yemenidjian, KQED News, June 29, 2016

10:30 p.m.: Pastor Lyle Beckman, the S.F. Night Minister, waits for drag king Kit Tapata to finish her trivia hosting duties to talk about fliers for an upcoming fundraising. Helping others costs money and the Night Ministry relies on folks like Tapata. Beckman orders club sodas, but enjoys the community in local bars. As more neighborhood bars are priced out, he says the only people who talk to him at the new ‘sterile’ spots are the bartenders. (Natalie Yemenidjian/KQED)

Walking SF Streets with the Night Minister

Many people living in need rely on churches for meals, support or simply a place to get off the street and rest. But like other types of service centers, churches close their doors at the end of the day. And for those without a home or family to turn to, the night can be a long and difficult time.

For the last 52 years, The San Francisco Night Ministry has stayed awake all night so that nobody in need has to face the night alone. They operate a crisis phone line, and they have ordained clergy literally walking the streets of San Francisco all night long.